British actor, Simon Shelton Barnes, who was famous for his role as the Teletubby Tinky Winky died of hypothermia and high level of alcohol in his blood, tests revealed.
The 53-year-old actor, who played the purple character from 1998 to 2001, was found with a ‘high concentration of alcohol’ in his body when he froze to death following a night out in Liverpool in January.
An inquest by coroner Anita Bhardwaj recorded his cause of death as misadventure.
“On January 17 at 07.15 hours, Simon was found deceased at the Port of Liverpool Building in a well between the building and street,”Bhardwaj said in a statement.
His close friend Jane Rees, said that he had struggled with separation from his three children, who were “everything to him.”
She also said that the deceased who was once a choreographer was looking for a new direction.
She said he came to Liverpool to get away from “London and the temptations not so much the temptations of drinking but more the socializing and partying and not getting any work done.”
Barnes took over the role of Tinky Winky after the original actor was fired. He remained on the show until the series ended.
Barnes is survived by his children and his wife, Emma Robbins.
Following his father’s death, his son Henry said,
“My lovely dad was the kindest and most gentle man I knew. I know he wouldn’t want me to be sad, so I’m going to live my life the way he would want me to.’ His daughter Lydia added:
“I love you so much Dad. The most beautiful man in the world. Forever in my heart.”
